Power

Samsung Electronics UK is part of a European Union-funded research project to develop a power analyst tool to make the mobile graphics processor (GPU) more power efficient. Samsung has teamed up with Edinburgh-based GPU technology company Codeplay, Greece-based silicon IP developer Think Silicon and TU Berlin to develop a tool for enabling smartphone batteries to last longer while running advanced video ...

Zettler has introduced series of 80, 120 and 200A solar relays for switching ac current in inverters. Contact gaps are wider than the firm’s previous offerings, at 4.6mm for use at up to 5,000m above sea level in the 200A version (pictured). “Zettler is responding to increasing demands for wider contact gaps in solar relays to fulfil ever higher isolation requirements ...

Intel is finally getting a toe-hold in deeply embedded designs, through a tie-up with On Semiconductor for motor control. The leader in PC processing, Intel is looking for ways into embedded, low-power and IoT applications – where ARM’s architecture is dominating. The idea for an embedded collaboration came out of a chance meeting between Intel and On company executives early ...

The first step in designing a microwave frequency power amplifier monolithic microwave integrated circuit on a given GaN foundry process is to select the transistor size and bias, writes Liam Devlin. The high breakdown voltage and operating temperature capability of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) fabricated on a gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor process makes the technology well suited to building ...

Rohm Semi and German lab Fraunhofer ISE have used SiC (silicon carbide) transistors to squeeze a 10kW power converter into 23 x 21 x 10cm and 4,5kg. For better efficiency, the topology chosen is mixed voltage neutral-point clamped (MNPC, see diagram) – also known as ‘neutral point piloted’ (NPP) and ‘T-type’, according to the team – which has 12 transistors ...

GravityLight is a mass-powered light for places where there is no electricity. Hang a 12.5kg bag of rocks the hook, and it slowly falls 2m over 20 minutes producing electricity for the LED. The artists impression is of the second version, GL2, which is now well on the way, and the subject of an Indegogo campaign. Learning from GL1, of which ...

Coventry-based start-up Anvil Semiconductors is developing power diodes, power mosfets and perhaps LEDs using a novel silicon carbide (SiC) process technology. The company’s technique is to deposit SiC with a “3C” crystal structure on a silicon wafer, in effect SiC-on-silicon. Transistors made from SiC and gallium nitride (GaN) are being proposed as alternatives to silicon in power applications because they ...

Transistor maker GaN Systems of Canada will be showing a 650V 30A three-phase inverter power module from LS Industrial Systems of Korea made using GaN transistors on its stand at PCIM Asia. Also featured will be a 3kW, 800/380V DC/DC bidirectional converter developed by the NextHome consortium in the USA. Of its own components, the firm is promoting the GS66516T 60A ...

Smartscooter from Gogoro is an electric moped that charges in under 10s – because it has swappable batteries. As such it needs special battery swap stations – particularly as home charging is said to be impossible – the first infrastructure for which is being installed in Taipei. Drive up to the charge station, pull two Li-ion batteries out of the ...

There are a number of reasons why an engineer would want to “split” a voltage rail in their design. Sometimes parts of the circuit, like a sensor or an IC, require a bipolar supply. Other reasons are to make the best use of the dynamic range of your ADC if it has a bipolar input, or to generate a mid-rail ...